Chapman Freeborn OBC
Global On Board Courier Services for
Services
OBC
White glove care. Delivered with precision.
From our hands to yours – reliable hand-carry solutions for urgent delivery worldwide
01 Available 24/7/365
Our on board courier team is available to you via telephone and email around the clock. You always have direct access to the team – we don’t use call centres.
02 Safe and Secure
You’re in safe hands. Our on board couriers personally accompany your shipment from pick-up to final delivery, anywhere in the world.
03 Global Coverage
Our fully insured, trained couriers are strategically located around the world – many with passports and visas for countries that are traditionally challenging to access.
04 50 Years of Expertise
As part of the Chapman Freeborn Group, we draw on 50 years of air cargo experience. We offer exceptional in-house expertise and award-winning customer service that supports our global hand carry services.
05 Innovative Solutions
Our service isn’t limited to the delivery of a single item. Using teams of express air couriers, we regularly assist our clients with multi-piece shipments – sometimes totaling more than 100 separate pieces.
NFO
Fastest route. First priority.
A premium logistics service designed for urgent cargo that requires the fastest available commercial air transport.
Next Flight Out (NFO)
Positioned between On-Board Courier (OBC) and charter solutions, NFO offers the perfect balance of speed, flexibility, and cost.
About us
Your trusted time-critical shipment logistics partner
Chapman Freeborn OBC was formed in Germany in 2006 as a specialist subsidiary of the Chapman Freeborn Group – one of the world’s most respected names in air cargo.
Chapman Freeborn OBC:
Worldwide time-critical hand-carry shipments
We’re committed to going above and beyond expectations to transport your hand-carry shipments anywhere in the world, our on board courier team manages all the aspects of your urgent cargo.
Whatever your product or industry our global network of hand-carry couriers deliver to unmatched standards. We offer your business the highest levels of security and expertise for your time-critical OBC shipments.
Rapid, reliable, secure
New York (JFK) - Tokyo (NRT)
Our onboard couriers personally accompany the shipment meaning the custom clearance procedure is quick and your air cargo is immediately available at your destination.
Day 1
03:27
Request received
03:40
Offer sent to customer
03:55
Customer confirmed
08:40
Courier picked up the shipment
10:00
Courier arrived at JFK airport
10:15
Check-in completed
12:15
Courier on board JFK-NRT
12:32
Flight departed
Day 2
17:14
Arrival Tokyo-Narita
18:03
Courier passed immigration
18:17
Import clearance in progress
18:33
Import clearance completed
19:32
Courier en route to delivery location – ETA 20:30
20:16
Courier arrived at delivery location
20:25
Shipment delivered and signed for by consignee
20:30
Proof of delivery provided to customer
Advantages of working with
Chapman Freeborn OBC
Below are just some of the reasons why we’re regarded as among the very best when it comes to delivering onboard courier solutions:
Global reach
Available 24/7/365
Dedicated brokers, no call centers
Quotes in 15 minutes
Secure hand-carry transport
Expertise you can trust
Industries
Below are just some of the industries that Chapman Freeborn OBC assist with urgent consignments. We are a valuable asset to any industry where deliveries are time-sensitive.
Aerospace
Whether it’s moving components for an aircraft assembly line, or delivering a spare part for an AOG situation, our hand-carry services help you transport your time-critical cargo in the most efficient way.
Automotive
When it comes to time-critical deliveries, there’s no faster way of transporting automotive cargo – making our services invaluable for just-in-time manufacturers.
Corporate
We work with multinational corporations and financial institutions to provide secure on board courier solutions for confidential documents and special consignments.
Energy
We provide specialist on board courier services for the delivery of energy industry cargo to locations worldwide, no matter how challenging or remote.
Fashion
Perhaps your client needs a Paris original for the red carpet or a designer needs to send a haute couture gown to Fashion Week in Milan. We provide custom tailored logistics solutions for the fashion industry.
High-tech
Whether it’s delivering prototype technology, moving production line components, or distributing samples for global product launches, we’re on hand to support high-tech industries.
Case studies
We work with some of the world’s biggest companies. Here you can find practical examples of our onboard courier operations in actions.
From AOG to airborne: critical aircraft part hand-carried from Frankfurt to Madeira
This case study highlights a mission where our On-Board Courier (OBC) team played a key role in transporting a time-critical aircraft part from Frankfurt to Madeira, enabling a grounded aircraft to return to service and allowing passengers to continue their journeys.
Read more
Time-critical air solution for high fashion company
An international high fashion company that produces haute couture, ready-to-wear fashions and accessories needed an immediate next-day air solution to transport important items from Paris to Mexico.
Read more
When every minute counts: A same-day hand-carry courier solution in Asia
On board courier services specialize in urgent shipments but there may be other reasons companies prefer to use a hand-carry courier.
Read more
OBC global connections to the rescue
Haven’t we all breathed a sigh of relief when we finally take our seat on the plane? For one Chapman Freeborn OBC courier, that was just the beginning of the adventure.
Read moreOur news
Updates and latest news from the Chapman Freeborn OBC team.
Supporting Business Continuity through Time-Critical Logistics
A production line is stopped because a critical component has not arrived on time. Each hour increases the impact while available transport options fail to meet the required timeline. Movement…
Read more
Chapman Freeborn OBC adds Next Flight Out (NFO) to its global time-critical solutions
Expanding its time-critical logistics portfolio, Chapman Freeborn OBC is launching Next Flight Out (NFO), a new premium service designed to complement its established on-board courier expertise and provide clients with…
Read moreFrequently asked question
Here, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about Chapman Freeborn On Board Courier (OBC) services. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help!
What does on board courier (OBC) mean?
A hand carry service or on board courier (OBC) shipment is a personally accompanied transportation of goods that is monitored by the courier at all times. This is often a door-to-door or airport-to-airport shipment.
What can be sent by an OBC? (Type of commodity, maximum dimensions and quantities)
In principle, all items that do not exceed the following:
- Deliveries with a weight of more than 32 kg per parcel – parcels of greater weight possible by prior arrangement.
- Parcels that exceed the dimensions of (L x W x H) 80 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm – bulkier parcels possible by prior arrangement.
- Deliveries that do not comply with the transport regulations of IATA, ICAO or with the regulations of the airline selected for air transport by CFO.
However, these conditions vary from airline to airline and are therefore subject to availability.
Anything from a small envelope to several parcels can be transported by hand carry. Whether spare parts, samples, specimens, or important documents – with a Chapman Freeborn On Board Courier, your shipment will be delivered safely and on time to its destination.
Where can I fly my Chapman Freeborn OBC Shipment?
Chapman Freeborn OBC can arrange hand-carry shipments anywhere in the world. However, the execution of the operation is always dependent on local legislation and entry regulations.
Exceptions apply in conflict zones and high-risk areas.
What information do you need to process a request?
To process an OBC quotation, we need the following information:
- Departure location / address
- Destination location / address
- The time when the goods are available
- The weight of the goods kg/lb
- What the content of the shipment is
- Company information
What is the time schedule? How much lead time does the shipment need?
Shipments are subject to courier and airline availability. However, your booked delivery can be in the air just a few hours after pickup.
Do you serve both B2B and B2C customers?
Our hand carry service is currently only for business to business (B2B) customers.
How do I become an on board courier? What makes a good on board courier?
A good onboard courier needs to have qualities in communication skills, flexibility and organisation skills. You can apply to become an onboard courier via our online ‘Become an OBC’ portal. You can register your interest by filling out the form, and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.
Who manages customs clearance? Do you manage customs clearance?
Customs clearance is usually be managed by the customers, however, Chapman Freeborn OBC has the availability to support Customs clearance in a few countries.
Who is taking care of adequate transport packaging of the goods?
Clients can book an additional repacking service if required.
Is the consignment carried exclusively in hand luggage? Or can you facilitate belly-hold shipments?
Depending on the size and weight of the shipment, it can be transported as hand luggage or belly-load.
Are you available 24/7/365?
Chapman Freeborn OBC is a 24/7/365 operation with three offices worldwide. Our on board courier team is available to you via email and telephone all around the clock.
Are there geographical areas that you do not serve?
We have a vast amount of countries that we can access globally, however, we do not operate to/from countries that have significant commercial restrictions. This includes companies that are registered and/or based in these countries and routings.
What about insurance? Do you provide insurance? What’s the amount that is insured?
Every shipment which is booked through Chapman Freeborn OBC is insured against damages and loss.
Valuable goods will need additional insurance, which can be purchased for every transport individually and is subject to availability.
Shipments are not insured against consequential damage – such as production line stops.
